Giuliani told a gathering of Christian conservative voters, "You have nothing to fear from me.".

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-New York, spoke before the Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit Saturday telling the Christian based crowed "you have nothing to fear from me."

The White House hopeful came to the event facing opposition for his stance on abortion rights. He addressed the issue head on saying that he would continue the model he used while mayor of New York to "increase adoptions and decrease abortions."

Giuliani, who supports abortion rights, said he would continue to support the ban on partial birth abortions, support parental notification laws, and support the Hyde amendment, which denies federal funding for abortions. He would also make the $10,000 tax credit for adoptions permanent and "cut the red tape" involved in the adoption process. He continued by saying he would make judicial appointments in the mold of Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Anthony Scalia, Justice Clarence Thomas, and Justice Samuel Alito, who are the most conservative members of the Supreme Court.

The former mayor told the audience that he came before them "with an open mind and an open heart, and all I ask is that you so the same."

But he also made it clear the he would not "pretend that I can be all things to all people."

He emphasized that he would not change his beliefs in order to tell them what they wanted to hear and at the same time made a veiled attack on his Republican rival Mitt Romney.

"For me to twist myself all up, to try to figure out exactly what you want to hear, and today say one thing and tomoorow say another thing, and a year from now, if you do that too long, you lose the sense of what leadership is all about," said Giuliani.

"Isn't it better that I tell you what I really believe," Giuliani asked the audience, "instead of pretending to change all of my positions to fit the prevailing winds?"

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at one time supported abortion rights but has since reversed his position on the issue.

Giuliani later reinforced his belief in God saying, "my belief in God and reliance on His guidance is at the core of who I am."

soundoff(69 Responses)

Giuliani represents everything the Republican Party should be doing right: getting on the bandwagon when it comes to more freedom in the social arena while reclaiming its fiscally conservative policies.

The Republican Party needs to show that it too can be inclusive of a broad range of people while remaining tough on defense, cutting back on spending, and supporting social justice.

This is the only way the party will survive worldwide Bush hatred and years of quasi-Republican rule in Congress which has left us with massive debt.

Time now to see just how much of a value issue abortion is. If the religious right compromises and supports Guliani, then obviously the sanctity of life is not a sacred to them as once claimed, or at least not as sacred as power and influence.

Anyone commenting here on Guilliani's pro-choice and pro-gay rights decisions should look at the fact that the recently appointed judges to the Supreme court, hand picked by Bush and confirmed by the Senate have both said in said in spite of their Catholic beliefs of and being anti-abortion that is Judges Roberts and Alito would follow the rule of law once appointed to the bench and not try to overturn roe vs. wade, that remains to be seen in future cases, however, you dumb neo-cons and religious fanatics your only chance against Billary is Rudy, he is against abortion so is Hillary, but they will do nothing to change the law, has Bush? Same with your corporate CEO Romney, who is definately lying about his beliefs. You people ought to get over trying to impose your religious beliefs on women and gays. And the so called racists who claim to be religious people, should focus on their congregations and stop fooling around with the wives of the men in the congregations.

PS, JASON? Quasi republicans? Sorry, Every republican from Reagan on down has spent like a sailor on shore leave including the Republican congress. The only time they displayed any fiscal restraint was when the hated Bill took them to the woodshed and made them pay for what they wanted. Of course paygo was canned as soon as the childking was annointed president and so it goes, Bigspending, no paying the bills republicanism . Ain't it grand folks.

Giuliani will win the Republican nomination despite not being everything the religious right want him to be. The red voters need to brace themselves for his only hope of winning the presidential election. Prediction: He will have to spin the Iraq war a success in creating a democratic nation and lay out an exit strategy. Are you righties ready to vote for that ?

he will win the Republican nomination -and he will also be our next president (well...if the Dems run Hillary he will) – I love to read the stuff from the angry left wing bloggers....especially the first quote from Ethan....search for that quote....Giuliani never said that....
looking at what Giuliani did say – do you agree with the following:

support abortion rights
continue to support the ban on partial birth abortions
support parental notification laws
support the Hyde amendment(which denies federal funding for abortions)
make the $10,000 tax credit for adoptions permanent and "cut the red tape" involved in the adoption process

I think that Republicans and Democrats will agree – this is a moderate stance – and we no longer need the left....nor do we need the right....we need a true moderate....socially liberal and fiscally conservative

I heard Rudy speak a couple of years ago – not about politics, but about leadership. He didn't have a written speech, he just spoke extemporaneously, pacing back and forth on a stage in front of a fairly large audience. I was impressed in that "what you see is what you get". He tells it like he sees it – it's not phony, patronizing, or trying to tell people what they want to hear.

I watched his address to this group via the web, and it's the same – he is what he is. That's refreshing! He's not trying to "phony up" to anybody. I'm impressed – may not agree 100% on every issue, but he's a straight talker. He has my ear.

Chris said: "especially the first quote from Ethan….search for that quote….Giuliani never said that…."

Did you look? Obviously not.

"""Likewise if we’re honest with each other, trust will follow. We might agree, we might not always agree. I don’t always agree with myself. But I’ll give you a reason to trust me and you’ll always know where I stand."""

http://www.joinrudy2008.com/article/pr/919

2nd to last paragraph, scroll to the bottom.

Ya know, I lived in NYC when he was Mayor and I never remember him ONCE saying anything about faith or against abortion or against gays... The only thing it seemed he was against was the African-American population.

NYers may remember this:

GIULIANI IS A JERK.

>>>it's not phony, patronizing, or trying to tell people what they want to hear.

Hey Mac from Severn, MD: see my comment above. His stump speeches, especially his speeches at places like FRC, are TOTALLY unrecognizable from his time in NYC. Totally unrecognizable. A totally different person, Mac.

He IS A PANDERER of the highest degree.

October 21, 2007 10:44 am at 10:44 am |

Anthony M. Quattrone, Ph.D.

If Giuliani is not able to reach some sort of compromise with the religious right soon, without alienating republican moderates, the risk that the Council for National Policy will support a third party candidate is real (see recent "secret" meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah).

Polls appear to show, in a three-party race, with a new candidate supported by the religious right, Clinton at 46%, Giuliani at 30%, and the third candidate at 14%. It would appear that unless the republicans get their act together soon, they are in deep trouble.

Yes, please. Go Hillary. Go. As far away as possible, and take the millstone you're married to with you. Ten years of hatred and divisiveness spawned by your ambition and lies and personal agenda is enough for this poor nation of ours.
Personally, I find I could favor two of the Democratic candidates running, as well as two of the Republicans. They are similar in some aspects, and vastly different in others, but I dearly hope I will have the chance to have to choose between them come the general election. That way, if the person I don't select should win, I will at least be able to put my support behind the winner and wish them well and pray the country can indeed "move on."
Hillary is a divider, not a healer.

Ethan
Ahh....you were not quoting from this article...you were pulling from another website – I see my error – just guessing....you voted for Hillary...even though she just moved up from Arkansas...and bought a piece of land....and you are one of the people who will defend her every action....?? (relative of Laurinda...or just changed blog name?)